Bob Barker on The Price Is Right.Photo: CBS Photo Archive
“Come on down!”
The star diedin August 2023 at 99 years old. Here, a look back on his life in photos.
01of 11Bob Barker’s Early YearsYoung Bob Barker.FPG/Getty ImagesRobert William Barkerwas born on Dec. 12, 1923, in Washington, growing up on the Rosebud Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. “Cowboys tied up their horses at hitching rails,” he told PEOPLE in 1999. “It was like I was growing up in the Old West.”
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Bob Barker’s Early Years
Young Bob Barker.FPG/Getty Images
Robert William Barkerwas born on Dec. 12, 1923, in Washington, growing up on the Rosebud Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. “Cowboys tied up their horses at hitching rails,” he told PEOPLE in 1999. “It was like I was growing up in the Old West.”
02of 11Bob Barker’s Military ServiceYoung Bob Barker.Naval Air Station Grosse Ile Virtual MuseumBarker attended Drury College in Missouri before joining the Navy in 1943.
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Bob Barker’s Military Service
Young Bob Barker.Naval Air Station Grosse Ile Virtual Museum
Barker attended Drury College in Missouri before joining the Navy in 1943.
03of 11Bob Barker’s Wife Dorothy Jo GideonBob Barker and Wife Dorothy.Gerald Smith/ NBC/NBCU Photo BankBarker married high school sweetheartDorothy Jo Gideonwhen he was on leave as a Navy pilot. In 1999 he told PEOPLE: “We fell in love as kids. And we stayed in love.“After her death in 1981, he said he’d “never marry again,” adding, “Dorothy Jo was the love of my life.”
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Bob Barker’s Wife Dorothy Jo Gideon
Bob Barker and Wife Dorothy.Gerald Smith/ NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Barker married high school sweetheartDorothy Jo Gideonwhen he was on leave as a Navy pilot. In 1999 he told PEOPLE: “We fell in love as kids. And we stayed in love.”
After her death in 1981, he said he’d “never marry again,” adding, “Dorothy Jo was the love of my life.”
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Young Bob Barker.Ron Galella/WireImage
Barker’s first post-college media jobs included a radio hosting gig in Palm Beach, Florida; he later scored an eponymous radio show out of Burbank, California, in 1950. His wife cowrote and coproduced much of his early work.
In 1956 his television career began withTruth or Consequenceson ABC. That opened the door for emcee opportunities with fan favorites like the Pillsbury Bake Off, the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Miss Universe pageant (pictured) beginning in the late 1960s.
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Bob Barker Joins ‘The Price Is Right’
Bob Barker on The Price Is Right.CBS Photo Archive
06of 11Bob Barker’s Sexual Harassment AllegationsBob Barker.Jim Smeal/WireImageScandal rocked the show and its host in 1994, when model Dian Parkinson (left) accused Barker of sexual harassment. Barker denied the allegations and said their two-year relationship was consensual. In 1995, she withdrew her suit and he told PEOPLE, “The only regret I have about the whole affair is that I ever met her.”
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Bob Barker’s Sexual Harassment Allegations
Bob Barker.Jim Smeal/WireImage
Scandal rocked the show and its host in 1994, when model Dian Parkinson (left) accused Barker of sexual harassment. Barker denied the allegations and said their two-year relationship was consensual. In 1995, she withdrew her suit and he told PEOPLE, “The only regret I have about the whole affair is that I ever met her.”
07of 11Bob Barker’s Animal ActivismBob Barker.Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/MCT via Getty ImageBarker famously ended every episode ofThe Price Is Rightwith a reminder to “help control the pet population,” and took his mission off-screen, launching theDJ&T Foundationto support low-cost spay/neuter clinics for dogs and cats in hope of curbing overpopulation. He even campaigned to get his own show to stop giving away products made of fur or leather, and worked to correct animal rights abuses elsewhere in Hollywood.In 2013, he gave nearly $1 million to transport three elephants from a zoo in Canada to a sanctuary in San Andreas, California, and continued to fund animal rescues and animal law courses at various universitiesthrough the years.
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Bob Barker’s Animal Activism
Bob Barker.Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/MCT via Getty Image
Barker famously ended every episode ofThe Price Is Rightwith a reminder to “help control the pet population,” and took his mission off-screen, launching theDJ&T Foundationto support low-cost spay/neuter clinics for dogs and cats in hope of curbing overpopulation. He even campaigned to get his own show to stop giving away products made of fur or leather, and worked to correct animal rights abuses elsewhere in Hollywood.
In 2013, he gave nearly $1 million to transport three elephants from a zoo in Canada to a sanctuary in San Andreas, California, and continued to fund animal rescues and animal law courses at various universitiesthrough the years.
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Bob Barker in ‘Happy Gilmore’
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Bob Barker’s Emmys
Bob Barker at the Daytime Emmy Awards.Ron Galella/WireImage
In 1998, stage 33 at CBS Television City in L.A. was renamed Bob Barker Studio following the 5,000th episode taping ofThe Price Is Right.
10of 11Bob Barker RetiresBob Barker.Jesse Grant/WireImageIn June of 2007, Barker retired fromThe Price Is Right,passing the mic to Drew Carey.“It’s a lot more fun to do than a person might realize,” Barker toldEntertainment Weeklybefore signing off that year. “Each audience has its own personality. It’s like mining for gold. I’m looking for little gems with whom I can create spontaneous entertainment. It’s great satisfaction.”
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Bob Barker Retires
Bob Barker.Jesse Grant/WireImage
In June of 2007, Barker retired fromThe Price Is Right,passing the mic to Drew Carey.
“It’s a lot more fun to do than a person might realize,” Barker toldEntertainment Weeklybefore signing off that year. “Each audience has its own personality. It’s like mining for gold. I’m looking for little gems with whom I can create spontaneous entertainment. It’s great satisfaction.”
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Bob Barker Dies
Bob Barker.Mark Davis/Getty
Barker died of natural causes in his longtime Hollywood Hills home in August 2023, Roger Neal — who served as his publicist from 1987 through 1994, and again beginning in 2020 — announced on behalf of Barker’s girlfriend,Nancy Burnet.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce that the World’s Greatest MC who ever lived, Bob Barker, has left us,” Neal said in a statement.
source: people.com
